On Oct. 11, some 100 residents demonstrated outside Station #2 in support of the Hicksville Fire District's plans to renovate the 48-year-old firehouse. Sponsored by the Hicksville Residents to Save Your Neighborhood Firehouse community group, the event served as a "Help Save the Firehouse" petition kick-off.

In addition to demonstrating outside of the firehouse while toting signs and chanting "Save Our Firehouse," supporters also signed a petition stating that they do not want the firehouse moved. Those who signed the petition believe "the Hicksville Fire District should go forward with their plans to renovate Station #2 at its present location," which is on Briggs Street between Ronald Avenue and Woodbury Road. Signing the petition also meant that residents feel "the board should proceed with their resolution to renovate the house for the welfare of the community and the overall safety of the membership."

According to Edward Mirabito, vice chairman of Hicksville Residents to Save Your Neighborhood Firehouse and liaison for Engine Co. 2 - which is based out of the Briggs Street station - 100 signatures have already been collected. Mirabito also said that the community group will be reaching out within the community by going door-to-door and to area stores, including supermarkets, asking residents to sign the petition and support the project. Harry Single and Mike Krummenacker, who are both vying for fire commissioner, have also signed the petition.

Unlike the Briggs Neighborhood Committee, which is opposed to the project and must gather signatures of at least 25 percent of all property owners within a 30-day period in order for the board of fire commissioners to be required to put the project up for public vote, the Hicksville Residents to Save Your Neighborhood Firehouse does not need to meet a quota.

The Briggs Committee, which is opposed to the project because they strongly believe residents will "lose privacy, parking and hundreds of thousands of dollars on the resale value of our homes" with the construction of a two-story firehouse, issued the following statement to the Hicksville News regarding Monday's demonstration: "We are very disappointed in the Station #2 members and their families for holding a demonstration in our neighborhood. We do not understand the purpose of the demonstration since the Hicksville Board of Fire Commissioners (with the exception of Commissioner Charley Hearon) voted to go forward with rebuilding the firehouse ... The majority of commissioners voted to go ahead with the rebuilding, so why rub our noses in it?"

The Briggs Committee also alleges that two of its members have received flat tires while another committee member's home was egged as a result of their opposition to the project. "Is this what we can expect to see any time the public questions the decisions and spending of our tax dollars by the fire commissioners?" asked the committee in their statement. "This is purely to intimidate and retaliate against us for expressing our views about the rebuilding at a recent civic association forum. For fire department members to antagonize neighbors around the firehouse is sickening."

According to Mirabito, however, the purpose of the petition is to simply gather support for the project. "We want to show the rest of Hicksville that we do want the firehouse and that we do approve the renovations," he said. "We are getting signatures and writing to the Town of Oyster Bay to let them know we have a voice, that we want the firehouse to stay there and we want it renovated. We want to gather as many signatures as we can."

Hicksville Fire Commissioner Joe Giardina added, "I am proud of the neighborhood for getting together to show support for the board of fire commissioners. This shows that a sound majority want to see this done."